- I took a seven-day small luxury cruise for $6,500, and it was worth every penny.
- This Windstar cruise was smaller and more intimate than sailings I’ve done on megaships.
- I fell in love with the little Icelandic towns we stopped in, where I did plenty of hiking.
For a long time, I thought cruises weren’t for me. I’d only been on megaships, which have thousands of passengers and always felt a little too touristy.
However, I changed my mind when I took my first small luxury cruise.
I booked a seven-night sailing around Iceland on Windstar’s Star Pride ship for $6,500.
Here’s why I fell in love with this style of cruise — and Iceland.
Although it was smaller than a megaship, this boat was still amazing
I loved everything about Windstar’s Star Pride ship, from my big, comfy bed to the stunning spa.
The cruise size — around 220 guests — was perfect for me. It was small enough to learn fellow passengers’ names but big enough that I was never stuck with people unless I wanted to be.
There was also so much to do on board.
I ate cookies, drank coffee, and played cards with new friends in the Compass Rose Lounge. Plus, the nightly line dancing, trivia, and entertainment always felt like just enough stimulation.
I loved that I got to choose whether to eat dinner alone or with strangers if I was feeling social. As a special treat, I even ordered room service (chocolate cake and prosecco) at midnight on my birthday.
As much as I loved the ship, it was Iceland that really drew me in
Every Icelandic port was magical.
At Heimaey Island — where puffins nest and a volcano looks down over the village — we drifted off the ship to explore. I hiked and wandered through the city to eat excellent caramel ice cream with salted black licorice.
Even though it was my first time there, the welcoming environment almost made me feel like a local.
When we docked in the artistic little town of Seydisfjordur, though, I really fell in love with Iceland. There were cheerful Nordic prefab houses, cute cafés, and a blue church at the center of town along the famous rainbow sidewalk.
In town, we were treated to an acoustic concert by two Icelandic musicians, and I was in awe hiking through the Vestdalur Valley. It was dotted with small flowers and stunning waterfalls.
The rest of the cruise was peppered with more wonderful experiences: A hike to Goðafoss Waterfall, a beer and pickled-shark tasting at a local pub in Ísafjörður, an afternoon soaking in the hot springs at Mývatn Nature Baths.
I didn’t want the week to end, and I’m already ready to go back
By the end of the week, ship dinners that started as stilted affairs became fluid and loose-limbed. People showed off their new Icelandic wool sweaters as they walked from table to table to chat with each other.
On our last night on the ship, a group of us were bracing ourselves for a big goodbye when a volcano erupted just outside Reykjavík. We could just make it out in the distance.
As a few people wondered if this would impact our ability to disembark the next day, I found myself wishing it would.
I wasn’t ready to leave. The small ship felt precious to me in a way no other cruise ever had.
We made it to port, and I got home safe. But I already know I’ll be booking another small luxury cruise in the future.
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